Canada?s ?Prince of Hali?, Tyson Cave (22-3, 6 KOs), of Halifax, Nova Scotia, was blatantly robbed of an interim world title Thursday night after he beautifully out-boxed Columbia?s Oscar Escandon (24-1, 14 KOs) over twelve one-sided rounds only to end up on the wrong side of a laughable split decision awarded to the Columbian. The bout took place at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California and was seen live on ESPN. Cave dominated the bout using good mobility from the opening bell keeping Escandon off balance using angles and fleet footwork. He out-punched the Columbian in nearly every round and just cruised to what was looking like a near shutout win. ESPN?s Teddy Atlas ? and the online ESPN fan poll ? had the fight a virtual wipeout for Cave. Then, as is often the case in this at times detestable sport, Escandon was announced the split-decision winner by laughable and outrageous scores of 117-111 (Raul Caiz Jr.) and 115-113 (Tony Crebs), with the third card for Cave (a still-too-close) 115-113 (Max DeLuca). The bout was contested for the interim WBA super bantamweight world title. ESPN announcers were outraged in the aftermath. It was in a word, inexplicable.
ESPN?s Teddy Atlas: ?That?s why this business needs a national overseer and a national commission to investigate crimes ? and yes I?ll say it: CRIMES like this one! This is why this sport, as great as it is, CONTINUES TO HURT ITSELF (yelling). It CONTINUES to give itself a BLACK EYE even when it?s already made itself a cyclops and has NO MORE EYES TO BLACKEN! Somebody, some congressman or senator ? someone with some guts and integrity ? needs to come forward and help us with this corrupt sport. There is no justice for these athletes? this is a SHAM! I?m sick and tired of watching these fighters who put EVERYTHING on the line having this done to them by COWARDS at ringside who?ve never taken a punch in their lives. I?m SICK OF IT!?
